Rotary hollow drum type cutter



March 15, 1955 E. T. SPONLA 2,

ROTARY HOLLOW DRUM TYPE CUTTER Filed Jan. 28, 1952 INVENTOR. Erml QUE EoboRo SPoplLn United States Patent ROTARY HOLLOW DRUM TYPE CUTTER Enrique Teodoro, Sponla, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application January 28, 1952, Serial No. 268,566

4 Claims. (Cl. 146-91) The present invention is related to a slicing chopping machine for foodstuff such as potatoes, carrots and other tubers and similar vegetables and has as its essential objective the provision of a machine of this class which shows a new structure of interchangeable knives whereby considerable advantages are obtained.

The slicing chopping machine according to the invention is characterized by being constructed with a rotary drum of cylindrical, conical or other convenient form, the drum being open at one extreme and being rotatably mounted interiorly of a case furnished with a hopper. The drum has various cutouts or slots parallel to its longitudinal axis, which slots are symmetrically distributed on its periphery. The cutouts have an elastic plate of suitable form fixed with an edge thereof near an edge of each cutout so that each cutout constitutes together with the wall of the drum-a pocket or pressure seat able to receive and retain under pressure a knife of corresponding shape so that the active or cutting edge of the knife projects a predetermined amount from the cutout and in a direction opposite to the rotation, of the drum, the arrangement being such that the insertion and removal of the knives is effected by a simple application of pressure or pull.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read. in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional side elevation of a slicing chopping machine constructed according to the invention, while Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate, in perspective, two examples of knives adapted to be used in the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. V

In the following drawings like or corresponding parts have been indicated by means of similar reference characters.

Referring to Fig. l, the improved machine comprises a conventional case or tubular housing member 1 furnished with a loading hopper 2 in which a drum 4 is rotatably mounted in the usual manner, as, for example, by means of a shaft 3. In the illustrated embodiment the drum 4 and the case 1 have a longitudinal, conical section but it will be understood that they may be cylindrical instead.

The drum 4 is provided with cutouts or slots 5, two of them being shown, which extend in diametrically opposite directions and are approximately parallel to the longitudinal shaft of the drum. Each slot extends throughout substantially all of its length from a point spaced a short distance from the closed end or bottom of the drum, and reaches up to a point spaced a short distance from the open end.

Near the trailing edge of the slot 5 as the drum is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, there is internally fixed to the drum, for example by welding, an elastic or resilient plate or clip means 6 bent so as to form with the internal wall of the drum 4 a pocket 7 ending at its longitudinal free edge in a bead portion 8, the arrangement being such that the plate 6 without the presence of a knife has a tendency of adjusting itself against the internal face of the drum 4.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the opposite edge of the slot 5 is folded slightly inwardly for the purpose which will be explained below.

In Fig. 2, there is shown a knife to be used in combination with the described construction and which knife comprises a sheet of steel or equivalent material 9 slightly curved in its transverse section according to the radius of the drum 4 and provided along its center with an elongated groove 10 having at either side thereof a seat 11 and a cutting plate having an edge 12, the

0 cutting plate having a hole 13 for the purpose which will be explained below.

In Fig. 3 one of several other possible forms of knives has been illustrated, meant to produce not slices, but fine strips, the straight cutting edge 12' being replaced in this case by a toothed or grooved cutting edge 12".

The insertion or removal of the knives 9 is very easy. Once the drum 4 has been withdrawn from the interior of the case 1, the knives 9 may be easily inserted, each one with its seat 11 extending through the slot 5 and into the pocket 7 until the internal face of its groove 10 is seated firmly on the bead portion 8, the elastic plate 6 which when displaced inwardly firmly urges the knife 9 with its cutting edge 12' or 12", projecting in thedirection of rotation of the drum from the slot 5.

The edge 5 of the slot 5 is folded slightly inwardly to facilitate the passing of the sliced or cut material into the interior of the drum 4.

To remove the knives it is only necessary to insert into the hole 13 any instrument having a small hook end and to exert a slight outward pull, it being easy to overcome the elastic pressure between the internal side of the drum and the plate 6 The'described and illustrated form of construction is illustrative of the invention and it must be clearly understood that all constructive and formal modifications and variations are. considered to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus clearly described and determined the nature of the present invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed, what I claim as an invention and exclusive property is:

l. A cutting device, comprising, in combination, a tubular housing member formed with an opening in its wall communicating with the interior of said tubular housing member; a rotary drum member having an axis of rotation and including an endless wall having an inner surface, said drum member being concentrically mounted in said tubular housing member, the wall of said drum member being formed with at least one slot therein extending axially thereof; elongated resilient clip means fixed at one end on the inner surface of said drum member adjacent said slot and extending along said inner surface in the direction of rotation of said drum member toward said slot; and a knife blade inserted between said clip means and said inner surface of said drum member releasably held therein with its cutting edge arranged projecting through said slot in said drum member and extending along the axis of said tubular housing member, whereby material placed inzsaid tubular housing member through said opening therein may be cut by said knife blade during rotation of said drum member and the cut rbnaterial discharged into the interior of said drum mem- 2. A cutting device, comprising, in combination, a tubular housing member formed with an opening in its wall communicating with the interior of said tubular housing member; a rotary drum member having an axis of, rotation and including an endless wall having an inner surface, said drum member being concentrically mounted in said tubular housing member, the wall of said drum member being formed with at least one slot therein extending axially thereof; elongated resilient clip means fixed at one end on the inner surface of said drum member adjacent said slot and extending along said inner surface in the direction of rotation of said drum member toward said slot, said clip means having a bead portion at its opposite end extending along the axis of said drum member; and a knife blade inserted between said clip means and said inner surface of said drum member releasably held therein with its cutting edge arranged projecting through saidslot in said drum member and extending along the axis of said tubular housing member, said knife blade having an elongated groove complementary to and engaging said bead portion of said clip means so as to be held thereby, whereby material placed in said tubular housing member through said opening therein may be cut by said knife blade during rotation of said drum member and the cut giaterial discharged into the interior of said drum mem- 3. A cutting device, comprising, in combination, a tubular housing member formed with an opening in its wall communicating with the interior of said tubular housing member; a rotary drum member having an axis of rotation and including an endless wall having an inner surface, said drum member being concentrically mounted in said tubular housing member, the wall of said drum member being formed with at least one slot therein extending axially thereof, the portion of said wall of said drum member along the edge of said slot facing opposite the direction of rotation of said drum member being bent inwardly of said drum member; elongated resilient clip means fixed at one end on the inner surface of said drum member adjacent said slot and extending along said inner surface in the direction of rotation of said drum member toward said slot, said slip means having a bead portion at its opposite end extending along the axis of said drum member; and a knife blade inserted between said clip means and said inner surface of said drum member releasably held therein with its cutting edge arranged projecting through said slot in said drum member and extending along the axis of said tubular housing member, said knife blade having an elongated groove complementary to and engaging said bead portion of said clip means so as to be held thereby, whereby material placed in said tubular housing member through said opening therein may be cut by said knife blade during rotation of said drum member and the cut material discharged into the interior of said drum member.

4. A cutting device, comprising, in combination, a tubular housing member formed with an opening in its wall communicating with the interior of said tubular housing member; a rotary drum member having an axis of rotation and including an endless wall having an inner surface, said drum member being concentrically mounted in said tubular housing member, the wall of said drum member being formed with a plurality of slots therein, each slot extending axially thereof; a plurality of elongated resilient clip means each fixed at one end on the inner surface of said drum member adjacent the respective slots and extending along said inner surface in the direction of rotation of said drum member toward the respective slots; and a knife blade inserted between each of said plurality of clip means and said inner surface of said drum member releasably held therein with its cutting edge arranged projecting through the respective slots in said drum member and extending along the axis of said tubular housing member, whereby material placed in said tubular housing member through said opening therein may be cut by said knife blades during rotation of said drum member and the cut material discharged into the interior of said drum member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 26,711 Schutte Jan. 3, 1860 146,401 Phelps Jan. 13, 1874 483,743 Maxwell Oct. 4, 1892 606,874 Morris July 5, 1898 FOREIGN PATENTS 341,003 France May 28, 1904 404,818 Germany Oct. 21, 1924 

